Sindh’s Prime Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, on Thursday announced the acquisition of 1,000 pink electric motorcycles for women along with the acquisition of two -story bus and electric vehicles (EV) for Karachi, said a statement from the CM spokesman.
These motorcycles will contribute significantly to greater mobility and independence for women, promote economic empowerment, break gender stereotypes and improve safety and safety.
By chairing a cabinet meeting at the home of the main minister today, Shah made several decisions, including the acquisition of pink electric motorcycles for women, the acquisition of two-story bus and electronic veins (EV) for the city and the immediate improvement of the Keejhar lake and the Kalri Baghar (KB) feeder to provide water for the K-IV project.
“The cabinet was informed that the Transits Mass of Transportation and Sindh (T&MTD) authority plans to launch a program aimed at improving female mobility through sustainable transport,” said CM spokesman’s statement, Rasheed Channa.
“This initiative will introduce approximately 1,000 electric motorcycles for women, which will be assigned through an open and transparent voting process. The initiative requires that RS3 billion be obtained outside the budget.
“The distribution will occur through a transparent open voting process in the presence of media, subject to the following qualification criteria: the applicant must be a permanent resident of Sindh; The applicant must be a student or a woman who works; The applicant must have a two -wheeled driver’s license; The applicant cannot sell the electric motorcycle for a period of seven years, ”according to the statement.
The cabinet said that a growing number of women worldwide opted for electric motorcycles as their main mode of transport for daily trips.
“The key factors that drive this demand include greater mobility, profitability compared to cars or public transport, ecological friendship and minimum maintenance,” he said.
The cabinet also decided that the Transits Massas authority of Sindh (SMTA) would acquire EV motorcycles through the competitive tender of one or more manufacturers, depending on the price and maintenance factors, the statement added.
Separately, the Cabinet was informed that the Massas Transits Authority of Sindh (SMTA) planned to acquire 50 public transport buses for Karachi, including 15 two -story buses and 35 electric buses.
The transport department intends to operate 15 two -story buses in Shahrea Faisal and approved the proposal, assigning RS3 billion for the project.
CM Shah, according to the statement, also allowed Dow University of Health Sciences (Duhs) to establish a company to make vaccines against snakes and rabies.
The meeting attended provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, main secretary and relevant secretaries.
Earlier this month, the CM of Baluchistan, Sarfraz Bugti, also announced the launch of the Pink Scooty and Electric bicycle scheme to provide modern travel facilities to students, young people and working women in their province.
Improvement of the KB feeder and the Keejhar lake for K-IV
The provincial government, in collaboration with the Federation, has also launched the “Karachi K-IV bulk supply scheme” to increase water supply by 1,200 Cusec, for a total of 2,400 CUSECs for the K-IV scheme.
On July 19, 2023, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved a PC-1 entitled “Water requirement for the K-IV project”, with a budget of RS39,942.559M, also divided between federal governments and Sindh.
Since then, construction materials and labor costs have increased significantly.
During 2023-24, the Irrigation Department sought provisional relief for eight articles related to ongoing contracts since no new schemes were granted, apart from the Superior Coating project of the Baghar Kalri feeder.
Although Sindh’s cabinet approved the tariff composed schedule (CSR) 2024 on June 1, 2024, this approval does not have a retrospective impact on the project.
At the second meeting of the Project Steering Committee on November 7, 2024, the Committee recognized the need to completely complete, agreeing to provisional relief for the eight items and suggesting a reviewed PC-1 for approval.
The PC-1 reviewed was prepared and discussed at the 30th Project Development Work Party Meeting (PDWP) on December 16, 2024. The options for consideration include granting provisional relief and reviewing the PC-1 with a new projected cost of RS50,989,328m, reflect an increase of 27.65 percent over the original budget.
The cabinet approved the proposal.
K-IV transmission line
According to the statement, the cabinet was also informed of the need to build a transmission line for the K-IV project by the Transmission and Office of Sindh (STDC).
In addition, a 132 kV grid station is required, which requires financing of RS 16.47 billion for its establishment.
The Department of Energy has agreed that the amount of the loan will be disbursed in sections depending on the real progress of the project, which will be verified by the department.
The cabinet approved a Joint Capital investment of 20PC for a total of RS3,295m by STDC and the Sindh Energy Holding Company Limited (SEHCl).
The remaining 80 percent, which amounts to RS13,179M, will be financed through debt or loans from the Sindh Finance Department.
The loan refund by STDC will begin from the date of commercial operations (COD).
Karachi’s Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) will act as the 50 MW bulk power consumer for Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco).
A Transmission Service Agreement (TSA) between KWSC and STDC will be signed, and a 50 MW (IPP) Independent Energy Energy Independent Energy Plant will be established later.
